China made stern representations to the US today about Taiwan leader Chen Shui-bian's reported stopover in the country.

 

"We are seriously concerned about the reports," Foreign Ministry spokesman Liu Jianchao said today.

 

Liu's statement was in response to reports that the US will allow Chen to stop off in the US before flying to Nicaragua to attend the inauguration ceremony of the Central American nation's new president.

 

"The Chinese government is firmly opposed to any official exchange between the US and the Taiwan authorities," Liu said.

 

"The real intention behind Chen's stopover in the US is to carry out activities that will divide China and harm China-US relations," he noted.

 

(Xinhua News Agency January 8, 2007)